Despite the low-level irritations, Dead Rising 2’s focus and determination win you over. Its assured grasp of what the game is and what it isn’t is worth celebrating. The harder edges of the first game have been softened a little, no doubt thanks to the involvement of a Western studio.

The result is a balanced game, at once idiosyncratic, infuriating, funny and ultimately compelling. In both its story and its systems, it holds life and undeath in delicate tension; and as a result, all the loud-mouth college humour and violence fail to mask its tender heart.

The review embargo lifts at midnight tonight, so we’ll have a review round-up for you in the morning.

Dead Rising 2 is out in the UK tomorrow and the US on Tuesday for PS3 and Xbox 360.